Hurrah!!!! There is some GOOD NEWS on Voting Laws!

THE PHOENIX

The focus of recent posts has been on the challenges to voting and the laws in this country that seem to be targeted to bring about low voter turnout.  Since one of the major goals of the PHOENIX PARTY is to get as many voters to turn out and to vote for candidates that are committed to fight for legislation that will address the needs of the economically poor, it seemed important to explore some of those obstacles. If you live in states where some of these regulations are in place, the point of those posts was to alert you to challenges you'll need to overcome just so that you can vote. These practices make the actual act of voting difficult in itself. We have yet to address how to determine who to vote for when you actually get to vote.

It should be clear, however, that these regulations primarily make voting HARDER. They do not make it IMPOSSIBLE. VOTING IS YOUR RIGHT AS AN AMERICAN CITIZEN. Politicians in your state may find it beneficial to set up roadblocks that make it hard to vote. They cannot set up roadblocks that make it impossible.  In fact, the basis of the legal challenges to these voter restriction laws that have already been successful is to target laws that do make it hard.  So, if you live in an area that has voting challenges you can take heart that there are advocates out there that are championing your cause.  It is important to know what regulations currently exist in your state that make voting hard so that they can be challenged. 

Voting laws are set by your home state and they vary from state to state.  While some states seem to be actively engaged in making voting harder, the opposite is also true.  There are many states that have voting regulations in place or in process that aim to make voting as convenient as possible for the voter.  Since those regulations are not universal, today we'll examine what some of those options are so that, if they don't exist in your state, you can begin to advocate that they should be.

It's important to be prepared for the obstacles ahead by either working to disable them through court challenges or gearing up to make the effort to succeed despite them. If these voter restriction laws exist in your state, one of the alternatives you have is to vote for candidates who will work toward changing these laws by implementing practices from other states that focus on simpler voting regulations and practices.  

The purpose of this post is to examine what other states have in place that facilitates voting so that, in the run-up to state and national elections, voters know what practices to press candidates to endorse during their campaigns. In fact, in a future post we'll even go so far as to suggest that there are procedures - like getting politicians to sign pledges - that groups have used successfully to get candidates to carry through on campaign promises. For example, many Republicans have signed a pledge not to raise taxes.

So, today we'll explore some GOOD NEWS!  What are the practices that some state have or are currently working to implement that will make voting easier?  Some of these regulations are easier to put in place than others and all usually come with some price tag, but we have already talked about the fact that voting restriction practices are also quite costly as well.

Some states allow for a practice that is one of the focuses of the challenge to the new voting laws in North Carolina - SAME DAY VOTER REGISTRATION.  This practice eliminates all of the struggles connected to completing in-advance registration procedures.  Not only does this mean that a new voter - or a voter to a new polling location - doesn't have to go through the time consuming process of either going online or going to some local election office to fill out a print voter registration form to (eventually) get your voter registration card...it also means that you don't have to worry about registration DEADLINES.  In my hometown, voters generally learn that the deadline is just about here by carefully reading the local paper to find that small, one or two paragraph, article that reminds voters that the deadline is really close.

Other states allow for ONLINE REGISTRATION.  In my home state I DO go online, but I'm NOT online to register.  I'm online to find a copy of the registration form so that I can PRINT IT OUT AND MAIL IT IN!  While I'm not positive of the process here, it would seem that if I need to send in a print registration form, someone in the local office is paid to take my print form and type my information into a computer so that that computer can print out my voter registration card so that someone can then put it in an envelope and mail it to me. (PHEW!) I'm assuming that the reason here is that someone has to verify that I actually DO live at the address I've given and I do have the driver's license number I claim to have (or the last 4 digits of my SS#).  Seriously???  Getting tickets to a concert is easier than this!  The concert ticket site not only believes me when I give it my credit card number (and believes that my credit card will pay for those tickets) it will also turn around and give me a copy of my tickets that I can print out and take with me right then and there! Why don't all states have online registration?  Obviously, one of the key questions here is that there is a cost to computerizing your records. (wonder what it costs to enter of all my print form data into the state database and mail me my registration card?) If registration is online it also means that you can go through the same simple process to change your address and identify your new polling place.  Keep in mind that we are only talking about simplifying the registration process. States that allow online registration still require that the first time you show up to your polling place you need to show some form of identification (from a driver's license to a bill that's in your name that's sent to your residence.) 

Here in Pennsylvania, unless one qualifies for an Absentee Ballot, voting only happens on a Tuesday - in May or November.  However, many states have EARLY VOTING times that allow voters to go to polling places between several days and several weeks ahead of the actual day when results are tabulated.  In many places, where one of those voting days is a Sunday, a large group of voters from a particular church often makes the trek to their polling place together.  In doing research about why people don't vote, the problem of waiting in long lines - especially on a work day - is often mentioned. Early voting really goes a long way towards reducing this problem.  

Many states have REDUCED THE WAIT TIME at polling places by UPGRADING VOTING MACHINES.  Happily, it is rare that one hears horror stories about "hanging chads" any more. These may seem like simple things, but items like increasing the number of polling place workers; the number of voting machines; having handicapped-accessible voting areas and having clearly identified and consistent polling places all can make the voting process simpler and quicker.

Some states are now combining registering to vote as soon as you are able with the place where you learn about the rights and obligations of citizenship - IN SCHOOL. Students who are 16 and 17 are allowed to pre-register so that they are ready to vote as soon as they are 18.

In some areas states have regulations that help citizens who are eligible to vote who have LANGUAGE NEEDS that can run the gamut from English not being their first language to being deaf. Having staff and print materials at polling places that address these needs makes sure that this category of voters gets to complete the process accurately and in a timely manner. 

If you've been convicted of a crime, regardless of whether it's victim-less or has a minimal level of violence, you often lose your right to vote.  There are many states where legislators are working to restore these voting rights of felons who have completed their sentences.  This strategy can go a long way towards increasing the numbers of poor and minority voters. 

Rules that regulate who has access to ABSENTEE Ballots and Ballots for those who serve in the MILITARY have also been improved.

While not the end of the strategies being explored, some states have even passed legislation that monitors voting rolls to make sure that names aren't incorrectly removed from those rolls.  

The state of OREGON has the most CONVENIENT program for voters in the Nation. As a result of this program, as can be expected, Oregon also has one of the highest percentage of eligible voters voting.  In Oregon you have the convenience of registering or changing your registration ONLINE (the registration requires either a driver's license or a state voter ID number - both of which are provided through the Oregon Department of Motor Vehicles). When it actually comes to voting, the state MAILS you a voting pamphlet to identify all of the information you need about items on the ballot along with a ballot and return envelope.  All you need to do is to make sure your ballot is in the mail by the required deadline.

Bottom line, while OREGON may be the ultimate vision to aim for, each of the above strategies are being used in different states to make voting easier and more convenient for voters....which, in turn, results in an increase in voter turn out.  Consider the practices that are listed above that ARE NOT IN PLACE IN YOUR STATE. Jumping to put in place an OREGON SCENARIO is a huge leap! You can, however, prioritize which practices would bring the greatest improvement towards make voting in your state more convenient. 

Once you know which procedures would be beneficial the goal is to get them in place.  How to do that?  One obvious way is to identify what practice(s) you want and communicate them to your candidates to see which candidates are willing to work towards putting that legislation in place. Remember, when we are talking about changing voting regulations we are talking about STATE LEGISLATIVE OFFICE HOLDERS.  While electing someone to statewide office can put someone in place or a number of "someones" in both your state Senate and House of Representatives who can move this kind of legislation forward, voting for such candidates is not the only option that voters can pursue.

Beyond electing candidates, state voters can also pursue what's called a "ballot initiative" or a "referendum".  In both of these cases, citizens need to acquire a certain amount of signatures on a petition - depending on the type of regulation you want to add or change, the number of names needed can vary but is generally a percentage of the number of votes cast in the last election.  This strategy allows voters to identify what regulations they want to change and then go about the process of getting their needs met by appealing to other voters directly. The INITIATIVE or REFERENDUM process MAY NOT EXIST IN YOUR STATE.  All states, however, should have some way to challenge current state laws.  Some state legislators have the ability to REFER some questions to the ballot for voter approval.  In this case it becomes a matter of LOBBYING legislators to take this action. If you're not sure what options are available in your state, google it! 

While voting can take some of your time, it is possible to spend that time deciding who and what to vote for rather than using up all of your time and energy completing the actual act of voting. Some of the ideas listed above may not be in practice in your state NOW but they can be. Knowing what the options are that you can work toward is a first step. Identifying what process you'll follow to make that happen comes next.  By now you should at least know that there are OTHER OPTIONS OUT THERE and THERE ARE WAYS TO GO ABOUT PUTTING THEM IN PLACE. The last (and the hardest) step is to actually make it happen.

VOTING IS IMPORTANT...BUT...IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE THAT HARD! 

Is there VOTER DISCRIMINATION? In North Carolina there is!

The PHOENIX

I took some time off this past week from writing these posts to do some research.  As often happens, I started looking for information on one topic and found myself going off in all different, yet related, directions.  What caught my attention?  I saw a feature on the fact that Young Voters in North Carolina were joining a suit to challenge that state's new VOTING LAWS.  While any news that talks about Voter Restrictions generally catches my attention, this particular topic sparked my interest because it focused on one of the issues I'd just recently explored - "Government-Issued VOTER IDs".  

In that earlier post I explored the challenges to the poor to get these IDs (if they don't have a driver's license) without acceptable forms of documentation.  This group of "economically poor" voters includes the elderly (who may have had a driver's license but it's expired because they no longer drive); the handicapped (who also don't have a driver's license); and minority voters - especially Black and Hispanic voters. Many of these voters also face challenges in getting to photo ID centers - particularly those living in rural areas with limited public transportation or being served by photo ID centers that have very limited service hours.

In North Carolina, all of these voter groups will be impacted by these new laws. Typically, court challenges to these laws come from both the Attorney General and the Justice Department as well as the NAACP and ACLU.  What's new in this case is the addition of a challenge from college-age voters. This time the court challenge to the constitutionality of these laws is not only connected to constitutional amendments focused on voter rights in general; it is also focusing on the 26th Amendment that addresses voting rights for people who are 18 and older.

As seems to universally be the case, the new Voter Restriction Laws in North Carolina come from a state that is governed by the Republican Party.  Why is this of particular interest to this blog? Apparently, in states where fewer voters show up the Republican Party seems to do much better than when there's a large voter turnout.  Why? A large portion of Democratic Voters come from the categories of people most impacted by these Voter Restriction Laws!

Let me be clear. While I have a personal political party preference, the reason why the motivation for these laws matters related to the goals of this blog and having a PHOENIX PARTY in general is that it makes the case I've been trying to make all along - not only does voting matter....the number of voters matter!!! And, if you're a member of one of the groups that fit under the umbrella of the category "economically poor"..the NUMBERS ARE ON YOUR SIDE!!!

Voters under the age of 30 aren't necessarily poor...(for that matter, neither are the elderly, handicapped, or voters from minority categories..). But, many of them are - especially students in college or recent graduates who have huge college loans to pay back and who are struggling to find jobs.  Why is it of particular interest to make it harder for young voters - voters 30 and younger - to vote in North Carolina?  Simple - in the last Presidential Election this voting group made up 57% of voters!  What politicians know is that most often the party that wins the position at the top of the ballot often impacts the winners "down ballot".  Many people are straight party voters. They don't take the time to check off individual names.  Presidential Election years are also the years when ALL of the HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE members are up for office!  These election years also have some US Senators and Governors and other state offices on the ballot as well...not to mention local elections that include mayors, town councils and school boards.  When does the new North Carolina law take effect? Some of those restrictions will effect this fall's election (when NC Senator's - Kay Hagan's - re-election bid is one of the crucial races that will impact which party controls the Senate). However, the most restrictive part of the law that will impact college-age voters happens in....you guessed it....2016!

How does the new law target young voters...specifically college-age voters?  Photo ID is one of those targets.  Unlike some of the other group categories we've discussed above, the issue of having a "government-issued photo ID" in the form of a driver's license isn't necessarily the problem for college age voters. They have a different ID problem - they go to a college in a DIFFERENT STATE so the license they have from their HOME STATE doesn't count!!! Yes...it's "government-issued" and yes...it's a "photo ID" but...apparently, one state doesn't respect the ID issued by another state.  So, the question is, do you care enough about voting to go through the process of getting a license in a different state? Or, do you care enough about voting to go home to vote?

College-age voters in North Carolina are also upset because, even if their license is from a different state, many of them DO HAVE A PHOTO ID FROM A STATE-RUN COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY. Those IDs, however, are also not acceptable. (note: in some state's state-run college IDs are accepted...just not in NC if the new law goes into effect.)

The NC laws create other challenges to young voters.  In many states you need to pre-register to vote and for the first time you vote in a precinct you need to show some form of ID.  That form of ID can vary from a driver's license to a copy of a bill you pay that was sent to an address that verifies you live in that polling area's geographic region. In North Carolina, the practice until now allowed for SAME DAY REGISTRATION. You still have to go through presenting some form of ID that first time voting at that polling place (this is a practice for all voters the first time voting at a new polling place. This is the time when You are first giving your signature - the signature they will compare to all future signatures when you return to that polling place for other elections). The value of "same day registration" is that for college age students just arriving in an area in late August/early September, pre-registration deadlines happen within a few short weeks after your arrival at school.

North Carolina also used to allow for 17 DAYS OF EARLY VOTING. Those days have now been cut to 10. Depending on your schedule, going to a voting booth on a Tuesday may mean missing a class. And, for some college-age students, even if they do have a driver's license, they don't have their own cars at school. They depend on friends and public transportation. Any flexibility in getting to a polling place is helpful.

Though it didn't pass, N.C. legislators also tried to include the elimination of a tax break for parents of students if the student voted in NC rather than vote in their home state!

Even voters who live in NC and will be 18 in time to vote this fall have been negatively impacted by these new laws.  Previously, students who are 16 and 17 have been a part of a program that allowed them to pre-register to vote in high school. That program has been eliminated.

While there is a certain amount of excitement to be able to say - when a person is elected President - I voted for him (her)! But...voters of any age are positively or negatively impacted by the legislation proposed/passed at all levels of government.  Even if you only reside in a state/city for the limited amount of years you go to college, the legislation enacted in your college town/state can impact you in many ways.  It's a great sign that young NC voters have joined in the court challenge to this case.

Some of the regulations described above have already gone into effect.  The group of plaintiffs who are challenging the NC laws are now trying to have the court put an INJUNCTION in place to put those laws on hold until the actual case comes to court in 2015.

As you consider all of these restrictions to the North Carolina Voting Laws, one of the key points to keep in mind is that North Carolina "used to be" one of the states who couldn't make any changes to its voting laws without special permission.  Why? North Carolina was one of the states that had a reputation for voter discrimination, so it was included in the VOTING RIGHTS ACT in a list of states who couldn't change their voting laws without permission.  The list of those states was eliminated by the Supreme Court in 2013 and Congress has yet to revise that section of the Voting Rights law to identify any states today who may still practice the kind of voter discrimination that needs to be regulated.  Incidentally, the new regulations in North Carolina were first introduced within a month of the Supreme Court's Ruling!  I'm not sure if the right word is ironic...but...it is worth mentioning that as soon as North Carolina GOT OFF the list of states who discriminate against voters they passed a law that's considered to be THE WORST VOTER RESTRICTION LAW in the country!

When we talk about making the effort to go out and vote it is worth mentioning that saying that COLLEGE STUDENTS are fighting to eliminate these voting restriction laws in North Carolina isn't "completely true". There is no officially recognized group called THE COLLEGE STUDENTS OF NORTH CAROLINA. What's happening in North Carolina is that SEVEN STUDENTS from NC state-run colleges have come forth representing NC college-age students in the lawsuit. If I ever put together a list of "my heroes",  those students' names would definitely be there!  I not only applaud their courage but suggest, if you're reading this, that you see if there's any way that you can find out who they are and send them whatever kind of encouragement you can!

The new laws in North Carolina are frightening! Should the legal challenges to these laws not succeed it would be catastrophic!  If the request for the INJUNCTION that is in court right now is not successful it would not only be a very bad sign for the voters of North Carolina and the outcome of the actual court case in 2015; it would also energize any other state legislature where the controlling party believes that lower voter turnout is an advantage.

While there are many reasons why I hope that this court challenge to the NC law succeeds, one of the main ones is that when young voters are surveyed on why they don't vote they say it's because they don't think their vote makes any difference. The results in the NC case will go a long way to either convincing these young voters that they are right or helping them believe that maybe they are wrong. Voting does make a difference! Let's hope....